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One Lap of the Web: Remembering the dearly departed

-- With news that Toyota is leaving the great state of California for the greater (by landmass, anyway; your own opinion may vary) state of Texas, it's worth reminding ourselves that Toyota in America started as one lonely building on 6000 Hollywood Blvd., having taken over a former Rambler dealership. (The site is still a successful Toyota dealership.) That first year of sales in 1958 saw 287 Toyopet Crowns and one Land Cruiser sold -- more as curiosities than as practical transportation, we'd wager. -- At any rate, Toyota's move from California to Texas is moving from "one of the most eco-friendly states in the union," according to Ward's Auto, "to the U.S.’s equivalent of China." -- Ten years ago today, the last Oldsmobile rolled off the line at Lansing Car Assembly.

Cars, Harleys among items to be sold in dealer bankruptcy auction

Three cars, five Harley-Davidson motorcycles and five boats are among the items from bankrupt Minnesota car dealer Denny Hecker being auctioned off to raise money for creditors. The item list for the May 25 auction in New Germany, Minn., includes a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible and a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero SUV. This is the third sale of Hecker's possessions since last August to raise money for creditors.

First Aston Martin Rapide rolls out of the factory

The first Aston Martin Rapide left the factory on Friday amid considerable fanfare, and the sultry sedan will soon begin arriving in 125 showrooms in 34 countries. This culminates the long road to production that began in concept form at the 2006 Detroit auto show. The production car was shown at the Frankfurt motor show in 2009.